Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Title: Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy #1)

Author: Cornelia Funke

Publisher: Scholastic 2003

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 535

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 2011 - Bablefish

How I Got It: I own it!

Meggie's father Mo has an interesting talent: when he reads aloud, things, and sometimes people, come out of their stories and into the real world! But now the evil Capricorn wants to use Mo's talents to bring himself great wealth and power. Then Meggie discovers that maybe Mo isn't the only one who can read things to life. This is an enchanting story full of adventure, suspense, and magic. The characters are vivid and delightful. Unlike many books for younger readers there is a distinct emphasis on the importance of family as seen in the close relationship between Meggie and her father. Unfortunately the author does include several instances of mild profanity which seems totally unnecessary in a children's book and is perhaps the biggest detractor from the story. Lightly magical, humorous, and fun, Inkheart will appeal to those who like adventure and fantasy, and to anyone who ever wished a story could come to life.

I wanted to like this book so much... I really did. But somehow I never became completely immersed in the book. I liked the main characters. I loved the villan, Capricorn. I felt for the characters. I wanted Meggie and Mo to succeed and even for Dustfinger to find his happy ending. But I wasn't willing ot put these characters' stories above other activities. I've decided that that is a mark of a favorite story. If I basically stop eating, sleeping, and everything else, I loved the book. That just didn't happen here. I liked it, but that was all. The story is well written. I especially loved the quotes from other stories at the beginning of the chapters. They always seemed very appropriate and often foreshadowed the chapter to come. Again, I liked the book, I just didn't adore it.